Willemstad

Willemstad
Willemstad
Willemstad on Curaçao
Coordinates:
State  Kingdom of the Netherlands
Country  Curacao
Established 1634
Quarters Punda, Otrobanda
Population
 • Total 140,000
  Estimated
Historic Area of Willemstad, Inner City and Harbour, Netherlands Antilles *

Willemstad Harbor
Country Netherlands
Type Cultural
Criteria ii, iv, v
Reference 819
Region ** Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription 1997 (21st Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List
** Region as classified by UNESCO

Willemstad is the capital city of Curaçao, an island in the southern Caribbean Sea that forms a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Formerly the capital of the Netherlands Antilles prior to its dissolution in 2010, it has an estimated population of 140,000. The historic centre of the city consists of two quarters: Punda and Otrobanda. They are separated by the St. Anna bay, an inlet that leads into the large natural harbour called the 'Schottegat'.

Contents

Cityscape and architecture

Punda was established in 1634, when the Dutch captured the island from Spain. The original name of Punda originally was de punt in Dutch. Otrobanda, which was founded in 1707, is the newer section of the city and is considered to be the cultural center of Willemstad. Its name originated from the Papiamentu otro banda, which means "the other side." Punda and Otrobanda are connected by Queen Emma Bridge, a long bridge of boats. Although still in use, these days most road traffic now uses the Queen Juliana Bridge built in 1967 (rebuilt 1974) which arches high over the bay further inland. Nearby is also the now non-functioning Queen Wilhelmina Bridge draw bridge.

The city center of Willemstad boasts an array of colonial architecture that is influenced by Dutch styles. The city center, with its peculiar architecture and beautiful harbour entry, has been made a UNESCO world heritage site.

The Snoga Synagogue in Willemstad was built by Sephardic Portuguese Jews from Amsterdam and Recife, Brazil. It is modeled after the Esnoga in Amsterdam. Congregation Mikvé Israel (now Mikvé Israel-Emanuel) built this synagogue in 1692; it was reconstructed in 1732 and is the oldest surviving synagogue building in the western hemisphere.

Economy

Due to its location near the Venezuelan oilfields, its political stability and its natural deep water harbor, Willemstad became the site of an important seaport and refinery. Willemstad harbor is one of the largest oil handling ports in the Caribbean. The refinery, originally built and owned by Royal Dutch Shell in 1915,[1] was sold to the Curaçao government for the symbolic sum of one guilder in 1985 [2] and is now leased to PDVSA, the state owned Venezuelan oil company.

The city also is a tourist destination and contains several casinos.

Willemstad is served by Hato International Airport, which is the home base of Dutch Antilles Express and Insel Air, Curaçao's airlines.

Sports

Baseball has a strong presence in Willemstad. Current Major League Baseball players Jair Jurrjens, Wladimir Balentien, and Andruw Jones all hail from Willemstad.

Pabao Little League has appeared in five Little League World Series, winning in 2004.

In 2008, another Pabao Little League team won the Junior League World Series, after winning the Latin America Region, then defeating the Asia-Pacific Region and Mexico Region champions to become the International champion, and finally defeating the U.S. champion (West Region), Hilo American/National LL (Hilo, Hawaii), 5-2.

Climate

Climate data for Willemstad
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 28
(82)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 30.1
(86.1)
Average low °C (°F) 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)		 25
(77)		 26
(79)		 25
(77)		 26
(79)		 26
(79)		 26
(79)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24.7
(76.4)
Precipitation mm (inches) 53
(2.09)		 25
(0.98)		 20
(0.79)		 28
(1.1)		 20
(0.79)		 25
(0.98)		 38
(1.5)		 31
(1.22)		 28
(1.1)		 107
(4.21)		 112
(4.41)		 99
(3.9)		 586
(23.07)
Source: [3]

References

  1. ^ "Curacao Investment Corp page describing the refinery". http://www.investcuracao.com/01c08.html. Retrieved April 2008. 
  2. ^ "Refinery deal in Curacao". New York Times. 1985-09-26. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07E4DC1539F935A1575AC0A963948260. 
  3. ^ "Colonial voyage". Colonial Voyage. http://www.colonialvoyage.com/america/eng/central/netherlandsantilles/climate.html. 

External links

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East
West
Curaçao

Historic Area of Willemstad
1 Shared locally with other region/s and with Germany
Capitals of North and Central America